126 Concluding Observations. 



scions of peculiar proneness to listen to beguiling 

 fascination, and to yield to temptation of various 

 kinds ; and we need all the help we can obtain, from 

 whatever source, to produce steadiness of purpose and 

 firmness of character ; and amusement and recreation 

 have much to do in forming and establishing cha- 

 racter. What seem but trivial matters too often mar 

 and spoil lives which otherwise might be happy and 

 beautiful : " Take us the foxes, the little foxes that 

 spoil the vines ; for our vines have tender grapes." 



In early times this island was far in advance of 

 England in important branches of learning and of 

 fine art. In Dagobert's reign the learned St. Ger- 

 trude sent here for masters to teach Greek, poetry, 

 and music to the cloistered virgins of Nivelle. More 

 than two centuries ago Archbishop Ussher ventured 

 to predict that Ireland would become the brightest gem 

 in Christendom. Later, Bishop Berkeley whose pe- 

 culiar metaphysical teaching was never more impor- 

 tant than in the present phase of mental science and 

 religious thought asks, amongst his celebrated que- 

 ries, whether there be any country in Christendom 

 more capable of improvement than ours ? The late 

 Dr. Petrie a learned Irishman and scholar, of Scot- 

 tish and German extraction, of whom I had the 

 advantage of being for years a pupil in youth, and 

 whose friendship I enjoyed until his death speaks 

 of Ireland as eminently distinguished in early times 

 for learning, as the cradle of Christianity to the 

 north-western nations of Europe in the sixth and to 



